TSA Junior Officer
Have you ever heard of such a thing?? This sticker is what my daughters got when they were “randomly chosen for further inspection” after going through security last week at Austin’s airport.
No, they weren’t patted down. But they were put in a little glass box type thing. Maya was the chosen one, actually, but Maura made the mistake of following her big sis into the box, and the TSA agent made her stay there. She was not happy about that, to say the least.
The agent asked them to stand very still and swabbed their hands with some wipes. I was behind them, outside of the box, so I couldn’t see exactly what was going on, but I think that was it. Very strange. We quickly put on our shoes, grabbed our bags, and were on our way. Oh, and they each got that sticker pictured above for cooperating. This little token of appreciation did NOT make up for how nervous the entire experience made them, however, which was just hastened by a delayed flight and terrible turbulence on the plane. I’m all about following security measures, but do a 3-year-old and a 6-year-old really need further inspection?
When will the ridiculous decisions of the TSA be challenged? I would have been furious and probably hauled off to jail. If we don’t stand up for our rights now we will lose them. I am appalled. Hopefully your daughters will remember this as only something silly.
Lisa K´s last blog post ..Poppy and The Bard
That’s so unfortunate! I just traveled for th first time with my 2 girls (2 and 5 yrs. old). You know traveling with little ones is stressful enough without all that nonsense! With all the training the TSA probably receives they ought to try and teach some common sense. I just saw the former Miss America on the Toda show talking about her inappropriate experience a couple years ago. She has a good point talking about how bad of an experence flying is becoming, it’s effect on travel and tourism in our country. Kind of makes you think… less pople wanting to fly forcing them to drive coupled with gas prices.
Sorry to hear about your experience. At least your girls got a neat sticker to remember the ucomfortable incidient (toung-in-cheek) 🙂
Erik Thordarson´s last blog post ..Skil Cross-Line Laser Level
Outrageous waste of tax dollars! Makes the whole process look foolish!
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I am so sorry you had to go through this, but reality is reality. People will use children to their advantage. Many times people have had their children steal items from stores, etc. What is to stop a terrorist, who believes they will be rewarded for suicidal mass killings, from using their child to get the job done? I don’t like it, but personally, I am glad that the TSA is wise enough to realize that this could be a credible way for terrorists to strike.
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I’m glad they didn’t have to be patted down. can you imagine how traumatic that could be to a child?! I think, as a parent, I would absolutely lose it if someone touched my child the way people are saying they are getting patted down. We will never fly again if things don’t change! What in the world were they looking for with a hand swab??
This sounds quite unsettling for you since you couldn’t even SEE what they were doing with your children, but also very frightening for them, too. Completely uncool and I’d probably end up arrested because I’d put up a major fuss. 😉
I don’t like that you couldn’t see what was going on inside……AT ALL! Ugh!
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i agree with Ann Williams’s words “People will use children to their advantage.” this is reality, and im not sure we can do something about it.
Ok, so “people will use children to their advantage”, but there must be something we can do? can’t we? I don’t believe it’s up to us.
The same thing happened to us, I wasn’t happy about it either but couldn’t really start arguing with them…don’t think that would end very well…at least you got a sticker we didn’t lol